Pearl, The June Birthstone

An accessory that is truly elegant for every day and occasion wear, the pearl is the modern birthstone for the month of June. For thousands of years pearls have been considered symbols of modesty, purity, wisdom, and marital bliss (which is why it’s often given as an anniversary gift for the 1st, 3rd, 12th, and 30th wedding anniversaries)!

Origin of the Pearl

The origin of the pearl has many legends. According to the ancient Greeks, pearls dropped from Aphrodite when she emerged from water. Other ancient mythologies state that pearls are drops of heavenly dew or tears of mythological beings.

As nature’s one and only organic gem, pearls are truly remarkable. Have you ever wondered how a pearl is formed? This video does an amazing job of visualizing just how a pearl is made!

Healing Properties of the Pearl

Many praise pearls for their healing properties such as being an antidote to infertility, insanity, memory loss, and insomnia. Others claim pearls possess the power to cure heart, stomach, spleen, and intestinal problems.

Many cultures and societies have made medicinal claims about the power of the pearl. In fact, the Chinese have used pearls for centuries to treat everything from simple eye ailments to serious heart issues. Today, the Chinese still use pearl powder as a skin whitener and treatment for acne and rosacea!

Determining Pearl Quality

The quality of a pearl is generally evaluated on seven different factors.

Luster: This refers to the intensity of light that is reflected from the surface of the pearl. The higher the luster, the glossier and more mirror-like the surface of the pearl. Pearls with a lower-luster will have a more matte appearance.

Nacre: Luster and nacre quality are closely related. If the nucleus is visible under the nacre, or the pearl has a dull and chalky appearance, the nacre of the pearl is thin. This impacts the luster and durability of the pearl.

Size: Larger pearls typically have a higher market value because they are rarer and cultivated longer in the mollusk or oyster. Most freshwater pearls range from 3mm to 12mm in diameter, but Tahitian pearls can be 18mm or larger!

Shape: The rarest and most valuable pearls are perfectly round, but pearls come in many shapes including near-round, button, oval, drop, or baroque shapes.

Surface: The most rare and valuable pearls are no blemishes or inclusions on their surface. The more marks on a pearl, the less it is worth.

Color: Natural and cultured pearls occur in a wide range of colors. There are warm hues such as yellow, orange, and pink, and cool hues such as blue, green, and violet.

Matching: Matching does not apply to single pearls or pearls that are purposefully mismatched. Rather it compares all the pearls on a piece of jewelry with each other to see how well they match.

Celebrities with June Birthdays

It’s no secret that pearls are a classic jewelry that can be worn for every occasion. Check out these famous celebrities with June birthdays, rocking their birthstone!